This week, Animal Justice lawyers fought at the Ontario Court of Appeal to uphold our hard-won victory against Ontario’s ag gag law. Ag gag laws make it illegal to expose cruelty to animals in farms and slaughterhouses. We fought to defend the free expression rights of whistleblowers and journalists, and to speak up for the millions of farmed animals who suffer in the meat industry.
Last year, we struck down parts of Ontario’s ag gag law as unconstitutional. This was a huge win for transparency in the food system, and animal protection! But the government appealed that decision, trying to bring back the dangerous law. Why? To cover up the shocking truth about how cows, pigs, and chickens are treated behind closed doors.
What Happened at the Ontario Ag Gag Law Appeal Hearing?
Our legal team stood strong in court during the two-day appeal in Toronto. We told the court how Ontario’s ag gag law violates the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, punishes truth-tellers, and hides cruelty from the public eye.
Now that the hearing is complete, we’re hopeful the court will uphold the right to expose cruelty and reject Ontario’s attempt to bring back secrecy. We’ll share updates when a decision is released, likely within the next six months.
Why This Fight Against the Ontario Ag Gag Law Appeal Matters
Ag gag laws aim to keep animal suffering out of sight. Canadians are familiar with meat, dairy, and egg advertising showing animals in idyllic, grassy settings. But this hides the truth—in reality, the vast majority of farmed animals live miserable lives in factory farms. They’re forced to live in dark, filthy, and windowless warehouses in large numbers. Oftentimes, they’re locked in tiny cages for their entire lives—especially if they are egg-laying hens or mother pigs.
The Hidden Reality on Factory Farms
An exposé by Animal Justice at an Ontario pig farm showed not only caged pregnant pigs in a dirty barn, but shocking illegal abuse as well. The footage showed pigs being kicked and beaten, piglets being castrated and having their sensitive tails sliced off without pain relief, and an illegal c-section conducted on a live, conscious pig. After the footage was released, the farm pleaded guilty to two animal cruelty offenses.
Without brave whistleblowers and undercover investigators, shocking exposés like this would never come to light.
As we explained to the judges, animal suffering in factory farms isn’t a rare accident. It’s the predictable result of cramming more animals into smaller spaces, with too few, minimally trained workers to oversee operations. Standard farm practices are exempt from general animal cruelty laws, and there are tens of thousands of farms in the province. But provincial inspectors don’t proactively visit farms. When inspections do take place in response to complaints, farms get advance notice and can bring industry group reps. This gives the farms time to clean up or temporarily change conditions before anyone arrives.
This means undercover investigations are often the only way to see the reality inside these hidden facilities. Before the ag gag law came into force, covert footage captured by whistleblowers was shown on major programs like CBC and W5. These led to animal cruelty charges and real changes in industry practices. Without this raw footage, the truth stays hidden.
Freedom of Expression is at Risk
This case is also about your right to know. As we explained to the court, freedom of expression protects not just those who speak out, but also the public’s right to hear the truth. Journalists and media outlets rely on whistleblowers and undercover footage to inform Canadians about cruelty that would otherwise stay hidden. If ag gag laws succeed, news stories about animal abuse will dry up—and so will the accountability they bring.
Take action now to help stop ag gag laws in Canada. Sign our petition calling on lawmakers to reject these dangerous laws that silence whistleblowers and hide animal cruelty.
Powerful Rally at the Courthouse
Outside the courthouse, over 50 supporters gathered to show Ontario—and the court—that Canadians reject laws that hide cruelty and silence free expression. For anyone who attended this event, your presence and your voices made an impact. Thank you for standing strong with us!
Rally photos: Summer Leigh
What’s Next?
The Ontario Court of Appeal will release its decision in the coming months. No matter what happens, Animal Justice will continue fighting for transparency, free expression, and the animals who can’t speak for themselves.
This fight is about protecting the freedom to expose the truth—and the public’s right to hear it. We won’t stop until secrecy is replaced by transparency and accountability for animals.
Stay tuned for updates and thank you for standing with us in the courtroom, in front of the courthouse steps, and in the fight for a better future for animals.
Banner: Jo-Anne McArthur | We Animals Media
